Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Rabbitte I will speak in favour of Deputy Troy's amendments. We will not be successful in getting the Minister to see common sense. None of us on this side of the House condones drink-driving and one life lost in an accident is one life too many. Proper policing of the existing laws is required. If a person is caught going 5 km/h over the speed limit, he or she does not see the same penalties or fines as somebody driving 70 km/h or 80 km/h over the limit.

A loss of a licence for a person in rural Ireland in many cases leads to a loss of a job.

Their licence is their livelihood. The Minister, Deputy Ross, has managed single-handedly to put the fear of God into most of rural Ireland. Rural isolation and mental health issues will be compounded by this Bill being forced through. We spoke earlier on a mental health Bill introduced by Deputy Browne. Unfortunately, we are going to see more consumption of alcohol at home. The whole social fabric that we know in rural Ireland will be decimated.

The Minister is the man who will close the door on rural pubs. The Minister has mentioned filibustering and the talk about alternative transport is most definitely it. There is no alternative way to get home in rural Ireland. I appeal to the rural Independents supporting the Government and rural Fine Gael Deputies, who know what they are doing is wrong, to vote with their conscience. They should do the right thing and support Deputy Robert Troy's amendments. If these increased fines and penalty points were introduced and properly policed, we would have a common-sense solution.

What the Minister is forcing through shows his lack of understanding of rural Ireland and the way it operates. This is not Stepaside. There are not three or four alternative ways of getting home. We have a lot of elderly people who have made up their minds that they will not go to the pub anymore. That is a sad day. These are common-sense amendments. Even at this 11th hour, I appeal to the Minister to see sense and bring in the changes we propose as with extra policing, we would achieve the aim we want.

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